The GnATTERbox

A general talking shop for any subject under the sun (even Monty Python). This would also be a good place to make suggestions about the site itself or about these forums (or "fora", if you're particularly pedantic).

Tram in bottom photo on page sure is interesting, has model in many gauges written all over it! I just recently woke up, so am wondering about availability here in US, my mind isn't up to full RPM yet.

later, Forrest Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality. -- Nikola Tesla, July, 1934

I saw the advert in one of the magazines. Just wondering if it has scale drawings. The book from Moseley trust is also very good, had drawings(not the one I am currently looking for though- the post WW1 8ton loco). The petrol tram does look like it would make a good model. The side view would make it relatively easy to do a drawing.

I have just bought this book. Very interesting if you are curious about Motor Rail the company. If you are only interested in drawings it is not the book for you. There are two locomotive plans, a proposed 3 axle type U that is new to me, and a very small 3 ton locomotive from M and R in South Africa. The Moseley book is the one for drawings.

There are intriguing pictures of standard gauge Simplexes, including a type G, and quite a bit on the products that they diversified into, dumpers, trailers, concrete breakers....

One fascinating fact that emerged was that in South African mines in 1982 there were no less than 5782 narrow gauge locomotives at work at the peak of the mining boom, and a lot skulduggery went on between the various suppliers to get the business.

The text reads a little awkwardly in places as Alan Keef himself is obviously part of the Motor Rail story and he hops between first and third person.

In brief, an excellent inspiration book and a very interesting behind the scenes insight.

thanks for the info. Did not really expect drawings, as Moseley Trust have them all as far as I know. I am only after one specific drawing anyway and I should be able to do a drawing based on photos, that is the 8ton version of the post WW1 protected version. There is a simple drawing of the 6ton which I think is the direct replacement. The 8ton is bigger, intended for bigger gauges. Info suggests it was intended for up to 3ft 6in gauge, but it was standard gauge that took the design on. I have a good side photo of an L&Y one, and several are preserved. Cabs were often boxed in, around the open cab frame supplied. I am deducing a lot of this based on the chassis looking the same(rivets in exact same places).

Neil, there are quite a few photos around. The 8ton loco was bought by many of the railway companies. I think there is even an LNER classification for them. Not sure about the Southern Railway. Also sold worldwide. It was a picture of of one in Australia, and the online discussion that got me interested.http://tdu.to/40379.msg